by Lila Rose
I tucked a few strands of hair behind Cora’s ear, searching her eyes for anything I needed to worry about. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“I killed him.”
“I know,” she said.
My brows dipped. “Can you handle that information?”
“Let’s give them a moment,” Alton said, and while they shuffled out of the house, Cora just smiled up at me.
“Cora—”
She shook her head. Her hands came up to cup my cheeks. “You saved me. That man… Sean was a bad person, Jackson. He stalked me, found me each time I moved, and wouldn’t leave me alone. I’m glad he’s gone. It means I won’t have to look over my shoulder any longer. It means I can get on with my life without worrying about him. It means…” Heat rose to her cheeks, and this time satisfaction flooded through me. “It means I can enjoy my life with you.”
I tightened my hold around her waist and used my other hand to thread my fingers through her hair, where I gripped. “You like the thought of being my mate?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her pupils dilating.
A growl rumbled free. “Mine,” I told her.
“I know. That also means you and your wolf are mine.”
The wolf pushed forward in my gaze. “Yes, mate. All yours.” I blinked back to my human eyes. Satisfaction spread through me for our mate’s acceptance and how she wanted both of us.
Chapter Nine
Cora
Jackson had showered quickly at the house and dressed in spare clothes he’d kept in his car. It was on the drive back to his place, since our front door couldn’t be replaced until tomorrow, that he explained his thoughts on why Sean had fixated on me. No matter what it was, after everything, I was more than happy to be somewhere where every time I stepped into the living room, I wouldn’t be hit with the memory of Sean sitting there, like I had when I’d arrived home after Mom’s call.
“How did you know we needed help?” I asked, turning to him as he drove. Mom was in the other car with Kathy, Alton, and King.
“Kathy. And the fact I felt something was wrong. I had to check, make sure you were safe.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling all squishy inside from the emotions.
He reached across and took my hand in his. “Anything for you.” He smiled, but it faded when he asked, “How long has that fucker been after you?”
“A while. We moved a couple of places because of him, but he always seemed to find us.”
“Shifters are good with scents.”
Of course. “I didn’t know he was a shifter.”
He grunted with a nod, his jaw clenching tightly.
“Hey,” I said softly. When he glanced my way, I smiled and squeezed his hand. “I’m safe. Mom’s safe. Everything worked out.”
“He could have taken you from me.”
My heart stuttered and my body warmed at his words. “No one will,” I told him, absolutely serious. I was ready to be by Jackson’s side forever. Knowing I was his mate, that I was made for him, and he was mine, settled all my worries.
As I gazed at him, my chest filled with pride. Jackson Havoc was my mate. I wasn’t sure what the future meant with me being human, but we had time to figure it out, and I wasn’t worried, since I already knew there were other humans as mates.
Jackson stopped the car out front of his cabin, and Alton’s car pulled up beside us. I climbed out, smiling. Even after what had happened and being scared senseless, I smiled, my happiness impossible to contain. It may be terrible that Jackson had ended Sean’s life, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Sean was no longer alive to harm any other woman, thinking she was a replica of his mate.
After saying goodbye to Alton and King, who were going to check the perimeter, which Jackson told me was a normal job for them, we made our way inside and into the kitchen. DeeDee was there, already making coffee, as if she knew we’d be arriving. When I caught Kathy and DeeDee sharing a look, it was obvious they’d talked.
“Girl, get your butt over here and give me some loving,” she demanded, her arms wide for me. I walked right up to her and hugged her tight.
I stilled.
All of this could have been taken away from me.
I’d been too close to losing my life, my mom’s also, here in Badlands Territory. With Jackson, with his family, our friends.
“There, there, you’re here now,” DeeDee cooed and rubbed my back.
Sniffing, I pulled back and wiped at my eyes. I laughed but didn’t put much effort into it. “Sorry, I don’t know why I’m suddenly like this.”
Hands landed on my hips, and I was tugged back against a large, warm chest. Jackson curled his arms around the front of me, his chin landing on my shoulder. His comfort supported me as more tears escaped.
I groaned. “This is ridiculous. I know we’re safe now.”
“Don’t you stress about it, Cora. You let your emotions take you where they want to go,” DeeDee said, gently patting my cheek before she moved back to the coffee.
Kathy nodded. “It was a close call. The shock or adrenaline is probably wearing off, so no doubt it’s going to come at you at times you least expect it.”
My bottom lip trembled. I bit down on it.
Mom smiled at me softly. “All you have to do is look around and see that he didn’t get a chance to take this away from you. He was too weak and pathetic to take away your future. A future I know you’ll be happy in.”
Another sniff, and I nodded. “You’re right.” What also helped was having Jackson wrapping me up into him. I lifted my gaze over my shoulder, and Jackson rewarded me with a kiss to the cheek. My body tingled. I pressed a quick kiss against his upper arm around me.
I was alive. I had a future I looked forward to. Things were good.
DeeDee snorted. “Mothers always are.”
My eyes widened. “DeeDee, you haven’t met my mom—”
“We have, dear,” Mom said with a smirk. “DeeDee popped by the house a few times. Told me things about your mate.”
A gasp escaped me. “You know?”
Mom grinned. “I do, and I think it’s wonderful.” She glanced to the side of me and rolled her eyes. “Finally, you’ll listen too, Mike.” She looked back at me. “Your dad wasn’t a fan of you being with a shifter, but after he saw your man here save our lives, he’s on board. So welcome to the family, Jackson Havoc.”
“Thanks” was all Jackson replied.
“Boy—” DeeDee started, but Mom laid a hand on her arm.
“He’s fine. As long as he makes our daughter happy, he can be as gruff as he likes.”
“I will,” Jackson stated.
Mom nodded, her eyes warm. “I know you will.” She clapped her hands. “DeeDee, even though that coffee smells wonderful, I think it’s time we get going.”
I tensed. “What do you mean?”
Mom laughed. “Oh, honey, do you really think I’d stay under the same roof as you and your mate for the first night?”
Heat hit my cheeks and spread down my neck. I felt, and then heard, Jackson chuckling behind me. “Mom!” I scolded.
She waved me off. “Kathy, walk with us to DeeDee’s. Your fine mate can pick you up from there.”
A wide-smiling Kathy replied, “Sounds good, Everly. Have fun, you two.” She sent me a wink and made her way out of the room.
“Yes, have a good night,” DeeDee said.
“Mom—”
“We’re not nuns, Cora. We understand what it means to have a man who is completely into you alone in his house for the first time. And I don’t mean playing cards or charades.” She cackled. “Yes, Mike, I can remember how good charades was.”
“Mom, too much. God.”
Jackson was still laughing. He dropped his arms from me when Mom moved before me to give me a hug. I was still stunned and more embarrassed, knowing they all knew what Jackson and I would get up to. Of course, it was bound to happen. I’d wanted him from first sight. Still,
it was awkward, but it would fade as soon as they all left. As soon as I was alone with my man, my mate. That I knew for certain.
“Ta-ta,” she called, after a quick hug to Jackson, which had his humor fading. He patted her back gently. We both stared after them and heard the front door close, the silence a little deafening.
Jackson didn’t look at me when he said, “You don’t have to stay here.”
I took his hand in mine and tugged him around to look at me. “I want to.”
His lips lifted in a stunning smile. “Yeah?”
“Yes.” I nodded. I shivered at the thought of being alone with Jackson.
“Do you want something to drink, eat?”
“No,” I replied, blushing once again. He drew a finger over my heated cheek.
“Tell me what you want, Cora,” he ordered, his voice thicker, darker, sexier.
My heart hammered, my body shivering, and I tipped my chin up and told him the truth. “You, Jackson. All I want is you.”
A growl resounded from within him. He stepped close, and with his hands to my waist, he picked me up, cupping my bottom as I wound my legs around his hips and my arms around his neck.
“Bedroom, big guy,” I said.
“Fuck,” he cursed. I ducked my head into his shoulder, giggling when he raced us through the house. The door to his bedroom nearly broke with how hard he pushed it open. He stopped just beside the bed, gazing into my eyes. “Cora,” he whispered and kissed my jaw. “My mate,” he said as he set a kiss to my neck where he ran his lips and cheek over my skin, covering me in his scent.
I didn’t mind one bit.
In fact, it sent my body spinning into a reaction. I needed friction and instantly. I lifted up a little and down over his already impressively hard cock. His hands clenched on my bottom. It was good to know he was affected by things I did like I was with him.
“Jackson,” I panted, rocking over him again. “Please kiss me.”
His lips landed on mine with a groan. We pressed, pecked, and opened to each other where our tongues tested softly at first before the taste of one another got to us, and the kiss deepened even more. I tilted my head before Jackson’s hand gripped the back of my hair and tugged. All the while, I couldn’t stop slowly rolling up and down over him. Driving us both wild if the moans, grunts, and groans were anything to go by.
God, I was already feeling so much. My body tingled with heat, desire, and a yearning to let myself go. Tightening my hold on him, I shuddered against his body as an orgasm burst through me.
I tucked my face into his neck. My cheeks burned once I’d come down, knowing I’d come and we hadn’t even gotten our clothes off.
Jackson ran a hand up and down my back, his chest moving from a quiet chuckle. “Mate, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Another second and I would have lost myself as well, because you drive me crazy.”
My laugh was muffled by his body. “Good to know.”
“Now drop down and we’ll continue this,” he ordered, causing my body to shiver. I slid down his body, drawing out a groan from Jackson when I rubbed in the right place. Smiling, I looked up at him and kissed his chest before taking hold of his shirt and dragging it up. He lifted his arms, assisting me and revealing himself. And heck if I wasn’t grateful. His body was something to be admired. I was lucky to know he was mine to have. He was beyond beautiful.
“Your turn,” he said, his voice gruff. As soon as he had my top off and thrown to the floor, his wild gaze ran over me appreciatively. Slowly, he reached out and took my breasts in his hands. “Perfect,” he growled, causing my clit to pulse to life again.
“So are you,” I told him.
He smiled softly and shook his head. He was crazy if he thought he wasn’t perfect for me. “You are.”
Stepping closer, he slid his hands around to my back and unhooked my bra. He shifted back and dragged it from my shoulders, down my arms, letting the girls swing free. He sucked in a breath before dipping his head and taking an erect nipple into his mouth. I moaned as his tongue curled around and around it. His bite had me whimpering and gripping the back of his head. I threaded my fingers through his hair as Jackson kissed his way across to the other breast, the other nipple and teased it with his hot, wet tongue. Only he didn’t stay there long. He kissed his way down my stomach, which quivered under him, and along the top of my pants at my waist.
“Jackson,” I murmured. Dropping my gaze, I met his burning eyes when he licked just above the button. He undid the fastener and slid down the zipper. He pulled the front down enough to kiss the top of my mound, driving me crazy. My knees shook, and my pussy throbbed.
Jackson drew in a breath, and a rumble of a growl started within his chest.
“Mine,” he snarled.
My breath hitched and I nodded. “Always.”
He tore my pants down my legs, helped me out of my shoes and socks, and then leaned back on his knees to stare at exactly what was his. His chest rose and fell rapidly, with the sound still echoing around the room.
In the next second, I was up in his arms, but then falling back onto the bed with Jackson hovering over me.
Laughing, I tugged on the sides of his jeans and said, “You need to lose these for the next stage.”
“I need a taste,” he said.
I groaned at the thought of his mouth on me, but I needed more. “Next time, honey. We have forever. Right now I need to feel you inside me. Make me yours.”
His snarl was small but wild as he moved off the bed in a blink. He kicked his shoes off, dropped his jeans, and removed them with his socks before he stood with his hands on his hips.
I got up to my elbows and slowly took him in. I licked my lips and swallowed, not sure if he’d fit inside me, but boy was I willing to try. Rubbing my legs together, I whimpered as my man, my shifter, my mate moved leisurely back toward me. I knew this was the start of sealing our future together. Elation burst through me at the thought.
When his knees hit the bed, I spread my legs. Unashamed, I presented myself to him, rewarded immediately when his intake of breath was uneven. As if unable to resist me, in the next second, he was between my legs, getting the taste he wanted. I arched, gripping the sheets under me at the first swipe of his tongue.
“Jackson,” I pleaded. I needed him inside me.
“Fucking perfect,” he growled. With a final kiss to my clit, he glided his tongue all the way up to my mouth, where he kissed me with so much passion. I wrapped him up in my arms and legs and never wanted to let him go.
Jackson slowly rubbed his cock against me, spreading my wetness and torturing me with every slide against my clit.
“Cora… have you ever?”
“No,” I whispered, kissing the side of his face.
He groaned. “I’ll… I’ll try to go slow, but… fuck.” He pulled back to meet my gaze. “This’ll be my first time as well—”
My eyes widened. “Wait, do you mean that when Kathy said shifters wait for their mate, you actually mean wait?”
His cheeks pinking was enough of an answer.
“Dear lord, that is damn hot,” I told him.
He snorted, then laughed into my neck. “My mate is amazing.”
“No.” He had it wrong. “My mate is.”
He shook his head, pulling his head back. “Are you ready?”
“More than ready,” I told him.
“Just tell me if I do anything—”
Cupping his cheeks, I said honestly, “There’ll be nothing I won’t like, because it’s you.”
His gaze darkened. Another growl dropped as he shifted back to line up the tip of his dick to my entrance. With measured restraint, Jackson eased inside. He was big, thick, but I was well-soaked. However, he caught my wince and stopped.
“No, don’t. Keep going,” I said, hooking an arm around his neck and dragging him down for a kiss. “Please.”
With his weight up on one elbow, he nodded. Instead of entering me more, his hand glided over
my body, over my breast, down my side, to between us where he pinched my clit, drawing out a cry of desire.
I spread my legs more, and Jackson thrust inside me. I moaned from pleasure and pain. I felt full. While new and a little uncomfortable, it was beyond enjoyable, especially when Jackson ran his thumb over my clit once more and slowly pulled back out.
New nerves shot to life with the movement. I opened my eyes, caught him, and smiled.
Touching his face, I slid a finger over his bottom lip. He opened and sucked on my finger as he thrust back in.
I whimpered. “More, please.”
His chest vibrated under my other hand from the rumble. He moved to both hands on the bed, beside my head, and I gripped his waist, watching him watch us as he thrust in and out.
“Fuck, Cora, you feel so good.”
I nodded and panted, “So do you.”
His jaw clenched, his brows dipped, and I knew he was close, which dragged up my own release. Seeing him over me, feeling him inside me, was too much. My eyes slid shut. Stars exploded behind my closed eyes, my belly clenched, and the most wonderful sensation filled me. I could feel Jackson, not just with my body, but my mind, my heart. He was everywhere.
Now I knew what Kathy had been talking about.
“Jackson,” I moaned, my walls tightening around him, and I felt him swell.
He groaned. “Christ, Cora.” His weight pressed down onto me when his lips landed on mine in a hot and heavy kiss as he grunted through his own release. Elation, desire, contentment, all of those emotions, and more, breezed through him, me, the both of us.
Our kiss grew slow until we both pulled apart, panting. He nuzzled his nose into my neck. “Can’t wait to do it again.”
Giggling, on the best high I’d ever felt, I rubbed my hands up and down his back. “Me neither.”
Gently, he slid out of me and curled me into him on our sides. “I can feel you’re happy, mate. I like it.”
I nodded. “More than happy. Moving to Badlands Territory was the best decision we’ve ever made.” However, a thought burst into my mind. “Um, Jackson… we didn’t use any protection.”